Last February, I spent 25 days in Chile with hopes of climbing Fitz Roy. Patagonia's foul weather blew away that dream, temporarily, but gave me ample time to work on my art.

Every day of the trip, I sketched in a children's book from 1935. I bought the small hardcover at a garage sale, then painted over most of the words to create a charismatic blank slate. Along with the book, I brought only a few tools: ink, watercolor, a Polaroid camera and a few paints. This meager palette let me shave weight and bulk--and gave me a challenge: traveling light forces reliance on simple skills.